Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 13 · column 3 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
By BIRGITT THORNHILL
Extension Agent
The good old summertime brings out the single worst tree pest - people.
Trees grow actively during the spring, summer and fall months. A soft, thin layer of cells just below the bark called the cambium produces wood and bark tissues.
Damaging the cambium is easy to do. Imagine the effects of a lawnmower or weed whip. They crush and tear at bark. Even a small wound damages the tree, and any stem or branch damage done now continues to affect the tree year after year.
The best thing for your tree this summer is to keep people and machinery away from it. You can use a barrier arrangement or you can use a mulch such as pine straw, pine bark or gravel.
Mulching is probably the better choice. Stakes used for barriers can damage roots and stems if poorly positioned. Mulches require little labor and have the added benefit of reducing weed growth around the tree.
Do not use unweathered mulch like fresh sawdust. Fresh, green material will tie up much of the soil nitrogen in microorganisms that consume the fresh material. Materials like freshly pruned leaves and clippings may also harbor pests or contain toxins that can damage your tree. New oat straw can contain a microorganism that produces toxins that can damage susceptible plants.
People do not limit themselves to lawnmowers and weed trimmers when it comes to damaging their trees. Other types of damage fall into the category of home-use damage.
Home-use damage includes tying clotheslines to trees and tying out dogs with ropes or chains fastened to the base of a tree. Hanging a swing from a tree branch or nailiner something to the trunk - these all cause damage. As a rule of thumb, never use a tree as a target or mark for anything. These kinds of abuses can lead to the formation of hollows and structural weaknesses.
Obvious kinds of injuries are bad enough, but some people cause tree damage by “helping” their trees. They overwater until roots rot. They improperly fertilize until the tree is burned out, or they prune
95.8%